Sign



Patented June 39, 1942 Claims.

My present invention relates to an improved sign and its supporting post, and holder or attaching means, by means of which the sign is mounted on the post. The sign is especially devised for outdoor use on streets and highways, but it is capable of use in various other ways for different purposes.

The primary object of my invention is the provision of a holder for the sign which is mounted on a tubular post or pipe in such manner that the sign may be rigidly fixed to the tubular post or pipe in proper position for use. If necessary the sign and its holder, or attaching means, may readily be detached from the post for the purpose of interchanging signs, renewing-old signs, and for other purposes. The holder is comprised of a minimum number of parts that are substantial and durable, and these parts, which are inexpensive to manufacture, may with facility be assembled in mounting the sign on the post, and with equal facility the sign may be dismounted and removed if desired.

In carrying out my invention I employ a holder comprising two clamp jaws for the sign, each of which is provided with an anchoring leg disposed at an angle to its jaw so that two sectional members of the holder are capable of a complementary pivotal movement, whereby the jaws are closed to clamp a sign or a bracket and the legs are spread to rigidly anchor the holder in a tubular support; and also whereby the jaws may be spread apart to close the anchoring legs, thus permitting the withdrawal of the holder from the tubular support if and when necessary.

In the accompanying drawing I have illustrated one complete example of the physical embodiment of my invention wherein parts are combined and arranged according to one mode I have thus far devised for the practical application of the principles of my invention, but it will be understood that various changes and alterations may be made in these exemplifying drawings within the scope of my claims, without departing from the principles of my invention.

Figure l is a view showing a sign and signpost equipped with my attaching means in the nature of a sign-holder, or a cap-plug for the support.

Figure 2 is an enlarged View, showing a portionof the sign clamped in the holder and the holder rigidly anchored in the upper end of a tubular post, or other tubular-support, which latter is shown in section.

Figure 3 is a sectional detail view at line 33 of Figure 2.

Figure 4 is a top view of the device as in Figure 2, showing a portion of the sign in section.

Figure 5 is a top plan view of the tubular support, in this instance a pipe or a tubular post.

Figure 6 is a detail view showing the manner of assembling the two sections of the holder in their relation to the sign and the tubular support, the latter being shown in section. V

In order to illustrate the. general arrangement and utility of parts of the invention I have shown in Figure 1 a conventional street or highway sign S, supported at the top of a tubular post I, and the post is shown with a base B.

In converting the upper cylindrical end of the post for use in my invention I preferably employ two diametrically alined notches l and 2 in the top edge of the post, and the latter is also fashioned with an interior annular retaining flange 3 at its top edge. This retaining flange may be made in any suitable manner at the top edge of the tubular support P, and in some instances it may be formed by the operation of a rotary metal cutter, as it revolves about the post or pipe cutting from the exterior to the interior of the pipe to form an annular inturned burr suitable for my purpose.

The diametrically alined notches I and 2 in the upper end of the tubular support are of sufiicient width and depth to receive the lower edge of the metal plate forming the sign S, or in some instances this metal plate may be an attaching bracket.

For clamping the sign and firmly attaching it to the tubular support, or post, I employ a holder,

which includes two sections each of which is fashioned with a clamp jaw, as i and 5. These complementary jaws are semi-circular in cross section to form a substantially circular portion of the holder exterior of the tubular support. As seen in Figure 3 the holder, in the nature of a cap-plug, has an exterior periphery of substantially the same diameter as the exterior periphery of the tubular post, or cylindrical support.

The two jaws i and 5 are each fashioned with an anchoring leg as 6 and l, which, in cross section, form segments of a cylinder closely approximating the interior bore of the tubular post and adapted to provide a neat fit therein as best seen in Figure 3.

,less diameter than the flange 3 of the tubular support, and above these grooves the jaws are fashioned with shoulders 8, which shoulders rest on top of the tubular post when the holder is in position for use.

It will be noted that the interrupted annular periphery of the two legs is greater than the diameter of the flange, and therefore, in order to slip the two anchoring legs into the flanged top of the tubular support or tubular post, the interrupted maximum periphery of the two legs must be reduced, as indicated by the position of the legs in Figure 6.

The two jaws 4 and 5 are cut out or recessed, and the two legs are shown as hollow segments of a cylinder, in cross section, to reduce the weight of material employed, and to accommodate the clamping means for the jaws.

For the purpose of clamping the two jaws together against opposite sides of the metal plate or sign S, I employ a bolt 9 with a head [0, and a nut II. The bolt passes through alined holes l2, 12 in the jaws, and also through a .hole IS in the metal plate or sign S, and when the nut is turned tight on the threaded end of the. bolt against the outer face of one of the jaws, the two clamp faces l4, M of the jaws are caused to frictionally engage and grip the opposite faces of the sign to hold the latter rigidly in place.

If desired, after the nut is turned home, the latter may be locked on the bolt by any suitable means, or the nut may be retained in usual manner on the bolt so that it may be backed ofi the bolt if necessary or desirable.

In order that the two sections of the holder may simultaneously be mounted with the sign on the top of the tubular post and with the metal plate or sign seated in its notches l and 2, the two legs of the holder are fashioned with arched and outwardly flaring inner faces or edges l5 disposed at an angle to the plane of the jawfaces [4. This arrangement permits the two legs to be squeezed together, as in Figure 6, to reduce their exterior peripheries so that the legs may be passed through the reduced flanged top edge of the tubular post and inserted in the post as far as the shoulders 8' will permit. This squeezing together of the legs may be accomplished by spreading apart the two jaws, as indicated in Figure 6, and the junction of the jawfaces M with the leg-faces I5 forms the pivotal point of each jaw.

After the anchoring legs have been inserted in the top of the tubular support the outwardly spread jaws are pushed against the opposite sides of the sign or metal plate S, thereby spreading the legs against the inner bore of the tubular post and also fitting the interrupted annular groove 8 of the holder against the flange 3 of the support. The bolt 9 is then passed through the alined holes I2 and I3 and the: nut H is turned home on the threaded end of the bolt, thus clamping the jaws on the sign between the nut and the bolt-head. As the opposed jaws are rigidly clamped on the opposite sides of the sign it will be apparent that the legs are spread apart in the tubular support and forced into frictional contact with the inner bore of the tubular post. The wall of the annular groove is also firmly fitted against the annular flange 3 of the support, and the shoulders 8 of the holder are firmly seated on top of the edge or end of the tubular post.

For convenience of illustration and description I have referred to a sign, and to a tubular post or pipe for supporting it; it will be understood that the tubular portion of the support may be a cylinder of only sufficient depth to accommodate the anchoring legs. While I have referred to the metal plate S as a sign, it will be understood that the metal plate may be a bracket attached to another object, such for instance as the open end cylinder or tube used as a housing for newspapers on rural delivery routes, or for mail delivery on rural routes.

Other means may also be employed in lieu of the annular flange 3 and the annular groove 8 for the purpose of preventing unauthorized withdrawal of the holder from its tubular support, and such changes and alterations come within the scope of my appended claims.

I have also found that the device suitable for fence structures wherein the upright posts and clamping jaws are utilized to support and retain the horizontal fence bars.

The horizontal bars may have flattened ends, either integral or attached, to fit between the clamping jaws.

Having thus fully described my invention, what I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent is:

1. The combination with a tubular support, of a pair of jaws and a sign mounted between the jaws, an anchoring leg on each jaw and projecting into the support, each said jaw and leg having a pivotal point of contact with the sign, and means for clamping the jaws against the sign and thereby simultaneously engaging the anchoring legs against the inner bore of the support.

2. The combination with a tubular support, of a pair of jaws and a sign mounted between the jaws, an anchoring leg integral with each jaw and projecting into the support, each said jaw and leg having a pivotal point of contact with the sign, a bolt passed through holes in the jaws and sign and a nut for the bolt, whereby the jaws are clamped against opposite sides of the sign and the legs are spread into frictional engagement with the inner bore of the support.

3. The combination with a tubular support having an inner retaining edge flange, of a pair of jaws mounted on the support and a sign mounted between the jaws, an anchoring leg on each jaw depending into the support and adapted for pivotal movement against the sign, said legs each having an exterior groove fitted against the flange, and means for clamping the jaws against the sign and thereby spreading the legs into frictional engagement with the inner bore of the support and the grooves into engagement with the flange.

4. The combination with a cylindrical support, of a pair of jaws and a sign mounted between the jaws, an integral leg for each jaw, each said leg and jaw forming a shoulder seated on the support, each said leg and jaw having angular faces forming points of contact with opposite sides of the sign, and means for clamping the jaws against the sign and thereby simultaneously engaging the exterior faces of the legs with the inner bore of the support.

,5. The combination with a cylindrical support having a notched edge, of a pair of jaws mounted above the support and a sign mounted in said notched edge between the jaws, an integral leg on each jaw forming a shoulder seated on the support, each said leg and jaw having a point of pivotal contact with the sign, and means for clamping the jaws against the sign and thereby simultaneously engaging the legs with the inner bore of the support.

JOHN W. ALEXANDER. 

